This year's event took place on Saturday
1st July at the The
Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth. All underwater photographers
were invited to participate either by entering prints taken prior
to the event or slides and digital images taken 'On the Day' to
compete for the trophies, some fantastic prizes and personal
awards.

A total of 134 prints were submitted in
advance in the British (56) and Open (78) class and these were
displayed at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth from 10 June
and at the Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth on the day.

A total of 42 underwater photographers
participated in the 'On the Day' competition - 15 film and 27
digital.

The best shot taken on the day was
judged by a panel comprising Kelvin Boot, Director of the National
Marine Aquarium, Plymouth; John Boyle, freelance videographer; and
Colin Doeg, co-founder of BSoUP [standing in for Tony
Backhurst].

The judges short-listed three
images from which to make their final choice of the overall
winner
.

Diver in wreck
by Dave Peake

Lobster
by Alan JamesWinner of the Grand prize

Flat worm
by Jan Davis

Alan's image of a lobster was judged as the best
shot taken on the day. Alan received a fabulous one week liveaboard
holiday in the Red Sea generously donated by Tony Backhurst
Scuba.

Alan James receiving his Grand Trophy
and prize from Colin Doeg

The Grand Trophy and prize for the best image on
the day was presented by Colin Doeg. All other trophies and prizes
were awarded by the Society's President, Brian Pitkin. Personal
awards were made to the first and second in each category, except the
combined creative/humour category.

In addition to our sponsors who have provided
prizes, BSoUP is grateful to the National Marine
Aquarium charity for the running costs of the print competition
and by Canon UK for the cost of mounting the prints to
be displayed at the Aquarium.

BSoUP is grateful to all those members and their
guests who helped to make the event such a success. First and
foremost Gill McDonald, without whom the event would not have been
the huge success it was. Gill was helped considerably by Lesley Maw,
Jan Maloney, Linda and Brian Pitkin, Martin Davies (film projection),
JP Trenque (all things digital) and last but by no means least Jane
Morgan, who did a fantastic job in organising prizes.

BSoUP also thanks Gill McDonald who opened, sorted
and logged every one of those 134 entries, Gill, Anthony Holley, Jane
Morgan and JP Trenque who gave up a Saturday evening to prepare the
prints for display, Anthony who accompanied Martha Tressler to
Plymouth to set up the display and Dave Peake (our 'man in Plymouth')
who helped set up the display, kept an eye on things throughout and
took it all down at the end! Also thanks to the Aquarium staff,
in particular Emma Knapman, who helped with the set up, counted the
votes and looked after things for the five weeks of the display.